Re: Narrow Gauge - now ... and then ...
| November 21, 2012 02:36PM |
|
Tom Gildersleeve [Also] Wrote [In An E-Mail]:
===================================
> As to comparing my stuff to Kevin's, that
> glint shot was the one scene for which I
> would have no parallel in my collection. It
> sounds like you were the one who pushed
> [for] that run-by if I understand your com-
> ments ...
Not me. Probably Pete recognized the potential and asked Alan for the runby, as SFAIK Bernd was caught unprepared and had to jump onto the moving train to retrieve his camera while it was backing up. I did take full advantage of the location though, as I had Stein's shot fully in mind and - knowing the terrain there - grabbed one of the best spots toot sweet.
> I probably parallel most of the other views
> [Kevin] shot, although I never got up there
> to do the elevated ones until the nineties,
> either Kraft's trip or one John West ran. I
> was there with snow on the ground most
> of the time, and getting up to Cumbres was
> a rare event in those conditions. I only man-
> aged it in 1960.
IIRC, that's when you were there with Paul Orlow, and he shot this one - which you sent to me for use in the 'Help Restore #483' screen saver:
Copyright © 1960, 2005 by Paul Orlow - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
> Also, chasing trains doesn't allow time for
> things like hiking into a terrific vantage point
> for a spectacular view. They don't wait for you.
> The one shot I regard as unique is that broad-
> side silhouette of the whole train taken north of
> Durango in 1963 and used on the back cover of
> the book [that Nils & I put out in 1993]. The high-
> way is next to the tracks now (it wasn't then), so
> unless you want to flag traffic I don't see how you
> could ever replcate it, and I don't recall anywhere
> on the C&TS where a shot like that one could be
> done at all.
Well, with a long hike - or a helicopter - you could get down to the opposite side of the creek and shoot across from Hamilton's point, and there's a fair broadside of Coxo Crossing from either Kodak Rock or Roger's Rock. On the east side there are a several places between Antonito and thetrestle culvert at m.p. 287.50 where you can get a good broadside in the morning without having to walk too far from the "road", such as at the trestle where that horse-thief Ferguson was hanged. (Shown here behind a rare photo line on 10/21/12):
(See also [ngdiscussion.net] and [ngdiscussion.net].)
IMHO, beyond the culvert at Trolliessen "You need a ticket to ride" (and hope the run-bys have been well thought out), or you need a knowledgeable guide like Steve Forney with his 4WD Jeep to get to the good spots.
> Also, they don't run winter trains on the C&TS.
> Here is a road that gets plenty of snow, but if
> you wait until the proper season you would have
> it in such abundance that you would have to run
> a rotary before you run the trip, and then issue
> snowshoes to everybody. So, I guess all that
> snow coverage I had (and JBWX had) is unlikely
> to be replicated ...
That is unless a gang of us ne'er-do-wells get together and pool our funds for a non-profit "winter" trip in late November or early December* one of these years - hopefully fairly soon, while we older Curmudgeons can still hobble around enough to enjoy it (and see well enough to at least aim our auto-focus cameras in approximately the right direction)!!
- Su Amigo, El Curmudgeono de la Costa del Oro
* IIRC, the Natl. Pk. Svc. Special was run the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the last D&RGW operations over Cumbres Pass was the "hospital" train on December 6 & 7, 1968. SFAIK it was quite cold, but there was only a moderate amount of snow:
Copyright © 1968, 2005 by Ray Osterwald - ALL Rights Reserved
Copyright © 1968, 2005 by Tom Gildersleeve - ALL Rights Reserved
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 02:58PM by Russo Loco.
===================================
> As to comparing my stuff to Kevin's, that
> glint shot was the one scene for which I
> would have no parallel in my collection. It
> sounds like you were the one who pushed
> [for] that run-by if I understand your com-
> ments ...
Not me. Probably Pete recognized the potential and asked Alan for the runby, as SFAIK Bernd was caught unprepared and had to jump onto the moving train to retrieve his camera while it was backing up. I did take full advantage of the location though, as I had Stein's shot fully in mind and - knowing the terrain there - grabbed one of the best spots toot sweet.
> I probably parallel most of the other views
> [Kevin] shot, although I never got up there
> to do the elevated ones until the nineties,
> either Kraft's trip or one John West ran. I
> was there with snow on the ground most
> of the time, and getting up to Cumbres was
> a rare event in those conditions. I only man-
> aged it in 1960.
IIRC, that's when you were there with Paul Orlow, and he shot this one - which you sent to me for use in the 'Help Restore #483' screen saver:
Copyright © 1960, 2005 by Paul Orlow - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
> Also, chasing trains doesn't allow time for
> things like hiking into a terrific vantage point
> for a spectacular view. They don't wait for you.
> The one shot I regard as unique is that broad-
> side silhouette of the whole train taken north of
> Durango in 1963 and used on the back cover of
> the book [that Nils & I put out in 1993]. The high-
> way is next to the tracks now (it wasn't then), so
> unless you want to flag traffic I don't see how you
> could ever replcate it, and I don't recall anywhere
> on the C&TS where a shot like that one could be
> done at all.
Well, with a long hike - or a helicopter - you could get down to the opposite side of the creek and shoot across from Hamilton's point, and there's a fair broadside of Coxo Crossing from either Kodak Rock or Roger's Rock. On the east side there are a several places between Antonito and the
(See also [ngdiscussion.net] and [ngdiscussion.net].)
IMHO, beyond the culvert at Trolliessen "You need a ticket to ride" (and hope the run-bys have been well thought out), or you need a knowledgeable guide like Steve Forney with his 4WD Jeep to get to the good spots.
> Also, they don't run winter trains on the C&TS.
> Here is a road that gets plenty of snow, but if
> you wait until the proper season you would have
> it in such abundance that you would have to run
> a rotary before you run the trip, and then issue
> snowshoes to everybody. So, I guess all that
> snow coverage I had (and JBWX had) is unlikely
> to be replicated ...
That is unless a gang of us ne'er-do-wells get together and pool our funds for a non-profit "winter" trip in late November or early December* one of these years - hopefully fairly soon, while we older Curmudgeons can still hobble around enough to enjoy it (and see well enough to at least aim our auto-focus cameras in approximately the right direction)!!
- Su Amigo, El Curmudgeono de la Costa del Oro
* IIRC, the Natl. Pk. Svc. Special was run the weekend after Thanksgiving, and the last D&RGW operations over Cumbres Pass was the "hospital" train on December 6 & 7, 1968. SFAIK it was quite cold, but there was only a moderate amount of snow:
Copyright © 1968, 2005 by Ray Osterwald - ALL Rights Reserved
Copyright © 1968, 2005 by Tom Gildersleeve - ALL Rights Reserved
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 11/23/2012 02:58PM by Russo Loco.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.